Mourning showed he is ready for the postseason, collecting 17
points and nine rebounds as the Miami Heat defeated the Orlando
Magic, 103-91, in the regular season finale for both teams.

The reigning two-time Defensive Player of the Year, Mourning
missed the first 69 games of the season before returning from a
kidney disorder that he announced was in remission. He averaged
13.6 points and 7.7 rebounds over the final 13 games of the
season.

Miami, which will take on Charlotte in the first round of the
playoffs, erased a three-point deficit by outscoring the Magic,
33-18, in the final quarter.

Last summer, the Hornets and Heat pulled off a blockbuster
nine-player trade. Miami acquired All-Star guard Eddie Jones and
forward Anthony Mason and sent forwards P.J. Brown and Jamal
Mashburn to Charlotte.

"It (the matchup against Charlotte) is going to be very
competitive," Mourning said. "It is so ironic since we made the
trade with Charlotte. I think it is only fitting that it
happened this way. It is just a matter of us being prepared for
an all-out battle."

The Heat finished 50-32, giving coach Pat Riley his 17th 50-win
season in 19 years as a coach.

"It was a good way to end the season," Riley said. "I thought
our guys played hard throughout the game. We found a unit there
at the end that kind of clicked."

Hardaway, who was placed on the injured list Sunday, missed his
third straight game with a bruised left foot. Miami could have
another injury concern as Anthony Carter sprained his left
ankle.

"If both of them can't go, then I think it's safe to say that a
star is born in Eddie Jones," Riley said. "We'll have to do some
shifting, no doubt. I don't even want to think about it,
though."

Jones picked up the slack for the Heat with 22 points, while
37-year-old A.C. Green added 19 and 14 rebounds.

"We are confident but we are not content," Mourning said. "We
have a lot of room for improvement. We have to go out there rock
solid, both mentally and physically."

Mike Miller, a leading candidate for Rookie of the Year, scored
20 points for Orlando, which faces Milwaukee in the opening
round. The Magic closed coach Doc Rivers' second season at
43-39.

"I'm really looking forward to the playoffs," Rivers said. "This
is my first time (as a coach) and this is most of the players'
first time. Let's hope that we will all learn together."

Tracy McGrady scored only 10 points for Orlando but did not play
after the first quarter.

"We're not playing at the level that we want to play at going
into the playoffs," McGrady said. "But we're going to get there
by Sunday, trust me."

The game marked the final regular-season appearance for highly
respected referee Hugh Evans, who is retiring after 28 seasons
in the NBA.